It’s in those establishments where fighters not only hone their skills, they also compete in smokers and unsanctioned underground fights which are a by-product of archaic lawmakers who refuse to legitimize the sport.

MMA opponents like Bob Reilly likely look at MMA gyms in the same light as his counterparts in Washington look at Al-Qaeda training camps.

The irony that fighters can legally train to break the law and trainers can supply them with the tools to commit such "crimes" in these locales is head-shakingly ludicrous, yet in 2010 we continue to fight for ordinance of a sport that is in essence, the oldest and purest form of competition known to man.

Our boy, KahL-One, has put together an incredible series of mini-documentaries about the thriving fight community in New York.

Cagepotato Comments

Showing 1-25 of comments

I'm pretty sure it can be posted here. If Cage Potato still loves me, of course. lol

CheechFace- September 20, 2010 at 10:22 am

Really nicely made vid K-1. Will the rest be posted here, a-la Ubereem's vids, or will we have to go look for them?
I'd watch the next one just for production value alone.
Kudos!

Seoul Brother- September 18, 2010 at 5:11 pm

@2DaDeath: I can understand. I went to college in the Berkshires in Massachusetts not far from where Norman Rockwell lived. You can't get more genteel and American than Norman Rockwell. That was a HUGE change of pace from NYC.

Kahl-One- September 18, 2010 at 6:52 am

The term "kimono" is used in jiujitsu circles as well as the word "gi". It's semantics; completely interchangeable.

In addition, plenty of fighters train no-gi, including champions. This includes Matt Hughes, Pequeno Nogueira, Josh Barnett and many many others.

Nestor's gym is a very famous gym with a strong reputation. Look him up first before making any odd comments.

Thanks,
-KahL

2DaDeath- September 17, 2010 at 6:40 pm

@ seoul:

I grew up in Brooklyn and after spending 8 years in South OC (cali), I can't picture going back to that giant ant farm.

Seoul Brother- September 17, 2010 at 12:50 pm

I've been living in NYC since '93, and while it is a Hell of a lot safer and cleaner, there's an overpopulation of douchebags that need to be taken out with hot belts of fully jacketed slugs. Times Square is practically Disney World North, and yet there's a prevailing sense of community.

If you want a completely irredeemable city of assholes, go to Washington, DC.

WalksInTheDarkness- September 17, 2010 at 7:30 am

On an unrelated note: 2DaDeath, NYC is just like London, too busy too full of people who think themselves better than the rest of the country which is why whenever I go to the states I spend most of my time in the South.

2DaDeath- September 16, 2010 at 11:12 pm

What would happen to crime and thugs in NYC if a bunch of Bernard Goetz-types start training?

On a related note, I hear NYC is way friendly than the U.K.

mondooh- September 16, 2010 at 6:45 pm

Those guys better get serious about their groundwork and quit going against the grain with the kimono thing if its MMA they want. Because the best grapplers in all of MMA still train in their PJs, ask the Werdums, GSPs, Mias out there. They better walk over to Renzos and ask for a pointer or two.

jimbonics- September 16, 2010 at 6:40 pm

bi-broducts can't be stopped.

Bob Reilly- September 16, 2010 at 5:44 pm

I bought every UFC dvd at the local HMV and I am going to burn them on Brocktober 30th unless they cancel all UFCs from here on out.

Seoul Brother- September 16, 2010 at 5:25 pm

@Morningwood: If by "underground gyms" you mean "Waffle House" or "Stuckey's Truck Stop," I'd have to agree with you.

Morningwood- September 16, 2010 at 5:13 pm

hmmm, could these underground gyms be where Ray Mercer has been hiding out?

Decipleofmagus- September 16, 2010 at 4:58 pm

Well I cant fully respect this gym because they referred to the gi as a kimono...but what should I have expected from a New Yorker.

Biffmiester- September 16, 2010 at 4:47 pm

@Cornerman

We already do! The people want it! It's just the fucking politicians who need it beaten into their fucking skulls, both figuratively and literally.

"Modern-day speakeasies" = brilliant comparison. Team Renzo is like the new Kennedy family of NY MMA.